St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-10-01

BEFORE starting an engagement had
bopn made with the soubah (ruler) OF
Mongmoo to meet them at CERTAIN
Mace with guides. He failed to come TO
time. and the Journey was resumed along
the crest of the Singaleelah range IL
was gradually onward and upward now
The nine forests consisted OF ola trees,
covered with moss-not young Tree
was to be seen.
On the top of Singaleelah the party
met the soubah, a patrlarchal-looklng
man in beard and gown. He brought an
experienced guide and lot OF rice ana
millet. The lady made him open ms eyes
in establishment, for she was the nfsG
European woman he had ever seen, ana
when she told him that she was gong 10
ascend Mount Junnoo he strokeu lis
beard seriously and begged her 10 go
back.
Once more the journey was resumed,
but with lighter luggage. a ollndihg
mist gave Mem Sahib foretaste OF WnaI
was coming. They had to dispense with
the dandy" as a means OF locomoton,
for the trail had become too rough, and
nv lady proceeded on in a tent char
strapped to the back of the giant of the
band, a fellow named Haiti, or "Ihe
Elephant" This man never weakened
under the difficulties of the journey, but
bore his precious burden up the clIh
which others could hardly climb on all
tours.
Day after day the courage Of our lady
traveller urged the little party on. They
were nearing the belt of perpetual snow,
and their provisions were running short.
Certain supplies bargained for with the
raiah of Sikkim had not been sent, and
the guides and servants began to murmur
"Go back to Darieeling, Mem Sahlb,"
they cried, as they gathered about the
woman; this is cold, hungry country
and we shall starve" But the lady shook
her head and pointed up the mountain.
On, on they went, in single file, follow
ing the footsteps of the guide in the
snow. Far below were the pleasant val
leys, where the butterfly hunters OF the
Iiimalavas pursue their singular calling;
far above were the cherries regions OF
snow and ice. Nothing daunted the
Mem Sahib The sun shone on the snow
through dazzling mist; it resembled
great ball of fire hung in the heavens,
and the effect was that the travellers al
most became blind, and were struck with
dreadful nausea that threatened to put
an end to the Journey
The indomitable will of the lady led
the party to an elevation of $4,000 feet,
half mile higher than Mont Blame. AT
this point the guide lost his way, the
bearers sank down exhausted, and the
Bhootias (natives) threatened mutlny.
Three sheep and little corn comprised
their entire stock of provisions. Two OF
the sheep were slaughtered to save the
lives of the servants 1t was decided to
attempt to reach Noun: Singaleelah be-
fore all was gone.
When the third stage of the forced re-
turn was finished, the guide disappeared:
He had certainly misled the party, and
there were reasons for believing that he
had done so at the instigation Of the
sanctimonious-lookin old soubah of
Mongmoo. On Mount Singaleelah the
travellers found little comfort. The last
bit of food was divided, the lady parcel
ing it out equally among all. There was
| but half biscuit for each man!
The Mem Sahib was now forced to go
forward on foot, but she did not murmur.
The servants were too weak to carry her.
| 1t was fearful journey. The dense and
| dripping pine forests took all the TO-
nance from the trip, and the men stag
gered on, wondering if they would ever
see the butterfly region again.
The last morsel was sacrificed with
weary signs. All strained their eyes in
looking ahead for succor; every ear
was eager to catch a shout. | doubt il
another such experience was ever had by
another member of the gentler sex. Its
details would be simply indescribable.
| But as all things must end, so the
ascent of the Himalayas so bravely led
Dy our lady traveller reached finale so
! far as the terrible hardships were con-
| cerned.
Some time after the last food had been
| devoured the forest ahead rang with
shouts, and messengers appeared an
nouncing that rice and corn were near
at hand. It was a season of jubilation.
! The Lepcha and Bhootia servants danced
themselves nearly mad with delight, and
| the pine aisles rang with the sounds of
merry-making.
One would think that this journey of
suffering and danger would send our
lady traveller back at once to the delights
of life at Darjeeling, but it did not. She
turned eastward to the valleys of Sikkim,
visited the famed monasteries there and
saw the lamas at devotion. These peo-
pie squat themselves in a room, each in
front of small desk that holds up the
manuscript sheets from which they read
constantly in low tones. All at once
man bearing teapot glides into the
chamber, and each lama takes wooden
platter from his bosom. He then pro-
ceeds to fill it with the contents of the
pot, which consist of tea leaves, butter,
salt and beans, and eats without inter-
rupting the endless prayers.
After exploring the valleys, which was
pleasanter work than the ascent of
Junnoo, the Mem Sahib and her compan-
ions returned through the tea district of
the Himalayas to Darjeeling, having ac-
complished one of the most venturesome
journeys ever performed by a woman. In
her modest little book, illustrated by her
own fair hand, Lady F. (Which is as
near as we can come to Mem Sahibs
name) has placed on record her right to
the title of "Great Traveller"
T. G. HARBAUGH.
A French Woman.
| tho Eropob bo,,eoI,o1S ~ .u..--